Nutcracker



Jan. 6, 1942. c. B. J. rcoLvlN NUTCRACKER Filed June ll, 1940 [n uentor .Qn/f B. J. CULV/N,l

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 y UNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICE .2,269,052r NU'rCInlC'KER*LA Cleve B. J. Colvin, Goldthwaite, Tex.

Application June 11, 1940, Serial No. 339,937

' y(C1. 14s-13) 1 Claim.

is separated from the shell, thereby obviating the' necessity for using nutpicks.

To the accomplishment of the above and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth y in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claim appended hereto.

. lIn said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a view in Vedge elevation,

Figure 3 is a'fragmentary view in side elevation drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 4 is View in front end elevation, and

Figure 5 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3. l Referring to the drawing by numerals, the illustrated embodiment of my improved nutcracker is of the pincer type kcomprising a pair of opposed, oppositely bowed, levers I forming hand grips having enlarged flat front ends 2 pivoted together, as at 3, side by side, and a pair of opposed oppositely bowed jaw members 4 extending from said ends 2 for opening and closing under movement of the levers I away from and toward each other, respectively. The front ends 2 are rabbeted in the usual manner, as at 5, -for intertting flush, as best shown in Figure 2. A pair of leaf springs 6 of any suitable material are interposed between the levers I parallel therewith, with rear ends welded, not shown, to the inner faces of said levers, said springs being oppositely bowed and having oating inner, curved ends 1 slidably engaging, whereby said springs urge the levers I apart and are free for play one against the other during manipulation of the levers toward and from each other. A link 8 swingably connected to the rear end of one lever I for locking over a curved end 9 on the other lever I provides for locking the levers together and the jaw members 4 closed. The levers I have milled outer sides I0, the purpose of which will be understood.

A nger stop II is provided on one lever I adjacent its front end to facilitate manipulation of the levers, said stop having a forked end straddling said lever and riveted thereto, as at I2, and an end extending outwardly from said lever for of such grooves I6 in the rear of grooves I5.

' The jaw members 4 terminate in a pair of inturned opposed ends I'I tapering to straight cutting edges I8 for clipping and trimming purposes, the outer spaces ot' said ends being preferably straight. The inner sides of the jaw members 4 are outwardly arched and said sides provide pairs of opposed outwardly bowed faces I9, 20, upon'opposite sides of the ribs I4, respectively, for clearing nuts positioned between the ribs I4.`

The manner in which the described nutcracker is designed to be used will be readily understood from the following illustrated description of its operation in cracking pecan nuts.

The ends of the pecan nuts, not shown, are

.rst clipped `ol by means of the cutting edges I8. The nuts thus trimmed are interposed between the ribs I4 to extend lengthwise parallel therewith and with the partition of the shell which divides the nut centrally and longitudinally aligned transversely with the ribs. Different sizes of pecans may be seated in different pairs ofgrooves I5, I6, I6' dependingupon how far it is necessary to open the jaw members 4 to accommodate the nut between the ribs I4. In this position of the pecan under closing of the jaw members 4 the same will be split longitudinally in halves. By clipping with cutting edges I8 on the edges of the half sections the latter may be trimmed so as to free the nut meat whole from the sections. Other nuts may be treated correspondingly as their structure requires tofacilitate extracting the meatwhole therefrom.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suice to im' part a clear understanding of my invention withoutv further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification withoutl departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

A nutcracker comprising a pair of hand levers pivoted together in opposed crossed relation for manipulation toward and from each other, a pair of outwardly bowed opposed jaw members on said levers, respectively, operative for opening and closing under movement of said levers away from and toward each other, respectively, said jaw members having inturned front ends of rectangular edge contour tapering to sharp straight cutting edges mating with each other, said ends having straight front faces for facilitating cutting nuts in half, and said jaw members having outwardly bowed central side edge portions for strengthening the same and widening said jaw members in the center thereof, and a pair of transverse central ribs on the inner faces of said jaw members extending from edge to edge of the widened portions of said members, said ribs being transversely rounded and longitudinally uted to provide pairs of opposed grooves on the ribs for seating nutshells therein While closing said members thereon to apply pressure thereto, there being a pair of grooves in the centers of said ribs, a single pair on one side of said center, and two pairs on the -other side of said center, the inner faces of said jaw members upon opposite sides of said ribs being smooth.

CLEVE B. J. COLVIN. 

